(Author’s Note: There is an auxiliary warning Chapter, read it first before starting the story.)
"STOP! BASTARDS, STOP!"
A scene of chaos and tumult had struck Ivy Lane of the Qing Shan Sect’s number 9 marketplace, causing many low-level cultivators who both lived here and had been passing by to come out and see the spectacle.
Their faces became a bit grim when they saw that in front of a rather small courtyard home, a group of men were jostling a woman who was in her early twenties.
Nothing about the woman seemed particularly noteworthy - not very beautiful nor voluptuous - but disaster struck nonetheless as a group of men of varying ages and cultivation levels circled her, tugging her back and forth while fondling her aggressively.
Nearby, there was a similarly young man who seemed to be in his early twenties, with an above-average level of handsomeness as well as a slightly rugged look that women found charming, that was being held down by two men who seemed to be part of the larger offending group.
Each of these men were clothed in red brocade robes underneath a network of intricate chainmail of a scarlet coloration which covered their core areas, giving them the feel of elite soldiers from an elite army. On their chests was a bright red badge with the sigil of a sword piercing a skull, also a mixture of black and red.
These men stood proudly despite the scene they were causing, glaring at everyone on Ivy Lane who came out to take a look or even peeked at the situation with hawkish eyes, as if looking for the next prey.
One of the weaker men among the group unleashed his aura of Qi Refinement level 7 wantonly, which quickly suppressed everyone on the scene not of his own faction and caused their faces to change greatly in fear and horror.
"The Market Guards are enforcing the law here! Who dares to interrupt?! Are you an accomplice to the crime?!" This content belongs to novel✶fire.net
His roar woke up the curious onlookers, who scattered like ants after being disturbed—each of them either rushing into their homes or into alleyways where they wouldn’t be seen, not daring to stay nearby even one moment longer.
Just the same, Li Ling, who was at his gate in the very next courtyard watching the scene, also retreated quickly with sweat on his brow and a surge of fear in his heart, not understanding how these almighty ancestors of their number 9 marketplace had descended upon their lowly living area.
Ivy Lane was just one step above a slum - or in fact, it was the cultivator version of a slum - just that even at the lowest level, the living standard of a cultivator was better than some of the noblest mortals. Because of this, the average cultivation level of those who rented here did not surpass Qi Refinement level 3.
It was precisely the weakest street of the weakest neighborhood, of the weakest marketplace, of the weakest sect, of the weakest... et cetera.
It was the place where weak cultivators like Li Ling - only at Qi Refinement level 1 and with no better prospects in the cultivation world, but too young to give up and retire to the mundane world - would reside.
It was also because of this that the denizens here, while not necessarily honest or kind, were mostly safe. Too poor for bandits to waste time barging into the marketplace secured by an array, too banal for any cultivator above Qi Refinement level 4 to even glance at, and too remote and unpromising for any corrupt official of the marketplace to aim to squeeze the bottom rung.
Events that could capture attention in this area were very rare, which was why people initially came out to watch, but seeing the ones outside, they could only crouch down in their homes with their hands over their heads while sweating profusely.
The enforcers of law and the rules of the Qing Shan Sect, spread throughout the various marketplaces that surrounded the region occupied by the sect in question.
Each of them was an elite cultivator that possessed a cultivation base ranging from Qi Refinement level 7 at minimum to Qi Refinement level 9, equipped with special spirit treasures for offense, defense, and interrogation, as well as special cultivation techniques that enhanced battle prowess.
Even among the various factions present in the marketplace, none boasted stronger personnel than the Market Guards, and their authority was almost unchallenged.
But it was precisely because of this that neither Li Ling nor anyone else who resided in Ivy Lane could understand why they were here.
They were the bottom rung of the bottom rung, akin to a mildly damp towel. If one wanted to squeeze out some ’water’ from them, it would require more effort than the reward, so the Market Guards usually set upon ’middle-class’ cultivators in the better areas deeper in the market.
Such fellows usually had medium-range occupations or slightly above-average talent, so they could usually produce ’extra’ to be shaved off and still maintain their lives.
So once again, why were they here? And in such force? What had this couple done to warrant such treatment?
It seemed as if the couple themselves were unaware of this, as the man who was being held down struggled visibly against his captors and questioned loudly:
"What have we done?! I have paid all my rent, all my fees, and have obeyed all the laws of the market! What crime have I committed to deserve this?!"
His roar was met with the thunderous sound of fist hitting flesh as one of the free Market Guards slapped him across the face, causing him to spit out blood and some of his teeth.
"Shut up! You will only speak when spoken to!" The Market Guard in question barked coldly, watching the fellow with the cruel eyes of a snake.
The pain seemed to wake the irate young man up, but he still didn’t seem willing to see his partner suffer . Before he could talk though, a smooth voice sounded out that seemed to still the entire area:
"Why is all of this happening? Well, that is a good question—and because I am in a good enough mood, I will give you the answer."